BENGALURU: The state government, considering the opinions of vice-chancellors of state universities, has rejected the proposal to set up an Urdu university at Kalaburagi. The proposal was forwarded by the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah following a request submitted by the Hyderabad Karnataka Muslim Jagruti Samithi before the higher education department.
It was dropped after the recent meeting of vice-chancellors of state-run universities held at Karnataka State Council for Higher Education (KSCHE). According to KSCHE officials, most of the vice-chancellors have expressed their opinion saying there is no demand for Urdu courses which are already running at state universities.
Confirming this to The New Indian Express, Higher Education Minister GT Devegowda said, “The proposal was placed before KSCHE by the previous government. Considering the opinions of vice chancellors we have dropped the proposal.”
The minister said, “Instead, we have directed the vice chancellors to take necessary measures to strengthen the existing Urdu departments at universities where the admission is decreasing every year.”
The representation had requested the previous government, headed by Siddaramaiah, to set up a dedicated university for the development of Urdu language in the state. They had requested the varsity to be set up at Kalburgi, considering the larger number of people belonging to the community in the region.